Maritime industry stakeholders yesterday converged in Lagos to commemorate and celebrate the life and time of its icon and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Adebayo Sarumi.
At a colloquium held to honor the port industry reform executioner the stakeholders eschewed the virtues of Sarumi and the various reforms he introduced into the port system, while he was the chief executive officer of NPA..
Maritime industry stakeholders yesterday converged in Lagos to commemorate and celebrate the life and time of its icon and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Adebayo Sarumi.
At a colloquium held to honor the port industry reform executioner the stakeholders eschewed the virtues of Sarumi and the various reforms he introduced into the port system, while he was the chief executive officer of NPA..
The occasion was graced by terminal operators, ship owners, former directors of NPA, truck operators, master mariners association as well as maritime lawyers and a host of others.
Speaking at the event, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Barrister Hassan Bello said that the port regulator role given to the agency today was initially planted by Sarumi when he was at the saddle as the Executive Secretary of the Shippers’ Council.
Bello also said that major achievements of the Council in the industry today, especially the acclaimed Seminar for Judges, the Cargo Defence Fund, creation of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) as well as the creation of Shippers Associations were all brainchild of Chief Adebayo Sarumi.
Speaking further, Hassan said, "this is an important stage in the life of Chief Sarumi, even more than the legacy he has established, this is an industry that he loved dearly, you can see the re-union of stakeholders, everybody is stopping to celebrate, not only Chief Sarumi but the Celebration of institutions that he has established in the maritime industry"
Speaking in the same vein, Managing Director of the NPA, Mallam Habeeb Abdullahi who was represented by his Mallam Abba Rufai also lauded Chief Sarumi for his innovative policies and for his openness.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) Mallam Habib Abdullahi, who was represented by Mr Abaa Rufai, described Chief Sarumi as a person who had excellent career in the maritime industry.
Abdullahi said that Sarumi had marshal experience towards advocating knowledge and excellence in the maritime industry for the general good of Nigerians.
"It is gladdening to see that even in retirement, his embrace and understanding of the need for change along with the culture of continuous improvement that are critical to the success of any industry waned.
" His commitment to the development of the service and retirement are without doubt worthy of commendation, emulation and a source of encouragement to stakeholders in the maritime industry, Abdullahi said.
Also speaking, Chairman of Starz Shipping, Engr Greg Ogbeifun commended Chief Sarumi for his doggedness in transforming the decadence he had inherited at the NPA when he took over the helm of affairs. Ogbeifun said that there was a lot of trouble in the NPA when he took over, but the former NPA boss was able to move above the decay to revive the port with the concession exercise.
Also speaking, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Mr. Benjamin Dicki who was represented by head of marine department, Mallam Yussuf Adamu commended the former NPA boss for his wisdom especially during the port concession.
"When the workers were laid-off as a result of the concession, in his ingenuity, Chief Sarumi approached financial institutions to make sure that the workers were paid their severance packages"
Two former managing Directors of NPA, Mallam Abdusallam Abubakar, and Engr Omar Suleiman were also among those who graced the occasion.
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